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1900 - 1920: Start up

The first caisse populaire was founded in Lévis on December 6, 1900, by Alphonse Desjardins and a small group of fellow citizens. The founding books show the registration of one hundred and thirty-one original members.

The Caisse populaire de Lévis began its activities on January 23, 1901, most likely operating from the founder's residence. The entries for the first business day totaled $26.40.

Modest beginnings

The new institution first had to earn the trust of the general public. Alphonse Desjardins sought the support of the clergy to accomplish that primary mission.

With the support of several priests from the Collège de Lévis where he had been both student and teacher, Desjardins won the favour of the Archbishop of Québec, Monseignor Bégin, and other Church dignitaries. Several priests came forward, asking to start up a caisse in their parish.

Legal recognition

From 1900 to 1906, Desjardins founded just three other caisses populaires: Lauzon (1902), Hull (1903), and Saint-Malo, Québec (1905).

Convinced that legal recognition is a federal responsibility, Desjardins made his request in Ottawa. Despite the support of many Members of Parliament, no bill was introduced.

Weary of waiting, he turned to the Québec government where he finally got what he was looking for: in 1906 the Loi concernant les syndicats coopératifs (the Act respecting cooperative organizations) was passed, placing the caisse under provincial jurisdiction.

Alphonse Desjardins efforts in Ottawa to obtain a single legislative framework for the entire country remained unsuccessful. He came close to achieving that objective in 1908 when the House of Commons passed a draft bill to encourage and support the founding of cooperatives. However, the bill was turned down in the Senate by a very slight majority.

Expansion

Desjardins then turned his efforts, with the collaboration of journalists and priests, to founding more caisses. From 1907 to 1914, he personally founded 146 caisses.

The first caisse to use the name Desjardins was created in 1913, in Saint-Sauveur-des-Monts. The same year, Alphonse Desjardins was named commander of the Ordre de Saint-Grégoire-le-Grand by the Holy See.

At the time of his death on October 31, 1920, there were no less than 220 caisses populaires, including 187 in Québec, 24 in Ontario and 9 in the United-States. In Québec alone there were some 30,000 members and total assets of nearly $6 million.

Before he died, the founder had already created plans to consolidate the existing caisses under a single federation.

Timeline

1900	December 6 -- The first caisse populaire founded in Lévis.
1901	January 23 -- First day of operations. Total deposits: $26.40.
1902	July 27 -- Caisse populaire Saint-Joseph-de-Lévis founded in Lauzon.
1903	September -- The Caisse populaire de Hull is founded.
1904	December 21 -- Alphonse Desjardins founds Action populaire économique, a group of community leaders interested in promoting the caisses.
1905	January 4 -- Caisse populaire de Saint-Malo founded in Québec City.
1906	The Loi concernant les syndicats coopératifs (Act respecting cooperative organizations), is passed by the legislative assembly of Québec.
1907	The first school caisses began operations in the fall of this year.
1908	Caisse populaire Sainte-Marie de Manchester founded by Alphonse Desjardins in New Hampshire. This was the first caisse in the United States.
1910	The first Ontario caisse is founded, the Caisse populaire de Sainte-Famille d'Ottawa. Publication by the Reverend Philibert Grondin of the Catéchisme des caisses populaires.
1913	The Caisse populaire Saint-Sauveur-des-Monts, is the first to adopt the name caisse populaire Desjardins. Alphonse Desjardins is appointed commander of the Ordre de Saint-Grégoire-le-Grand by the Holy See.
1920	In an open letter written in July, the founder proposed the major outline for his plan to create a federation. October 31 -- Death of Alphonse Desjardins.